Stevegud1

Well, I tied up a bunch of size 14 Quill Gordons, and though I'm not ready to post a photo, they are turning out better. One question I have now: how do I make even wings from wood duck fibers without cutting the tips off? If I snip fibers from the feather, then tie them in, they sort of turn out all different lengths. However, they are too small and stuck together to use a hair stacker. I also tried tying them in before removing them from the feather, but that gets real clumsy in a hurry. Any tips?

<-- Envious. Good luck!

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn't supposed to be using a small ziplock baggie of something from Hareline...but instead I am wrapping shoestrings on my flies. Lol

A material called for in a fly pattern is called "brown boot lace". This may seem like a stupid question, but is there a fly tying material sold called "brown boot lace", or is this guy actually using some fibers that really came from a brown shoe lace? I searched this forum and some fly material sites, and didn't find my answer.

Once you've made the first wrap of hackle, your second time around the hook shank, the second wrap is touching the first wrap - not overlapping but just abutting it and then the 3rd, 4th, etc, wrap does the same.

 

Tight as in up and down the hook shank - not tighter TO the hook shank - go too far(as in tight to the hook shank) and either the hackle will slip out of fingers/hackle pliers/or BREAK!

 

BCT

Got it, thanks. I can honestly say that I was wrapping hackle by counting turns, not by ensuring that the quill is touching itself for each wrap, so that should help!

The tail might be a smidgen long but its close. The wings could move back an eye length. And the hackle could be shorter fibers more tightly wrapped, maybe starting a little bit closer to the eye but it's hard to tell, could be camera angle. The tighter shorter hackle will help it float better and sit upright. Proportional things only really matter when the trout are being selective, but its good to get them down, which will come with time and repetition. I think generally the tail is hackle fibers not flank, but that shouldn't be of too much concern. Keep at it and lets see the progression.

Thanks for the suggestions. by "more tightly wrapped" hackle, do you mean more wraps, making the hackle more dense?

Well, i tied up some #14 Hendricksons. Other than I am a bad photographer, I see two thing I need to improve:

1. I let the tail move to the side of the hook.

2. I didn't trim enough fibers from the hackle when I tied it in, so I got fibers pushing rearward.

Any other things I should fix?

Thanks.

you posted this twice, each with no photo attached. If you're trying to post a photo you'll need to use the reply box and select "more reply options". You'll get a new screen that includes instructions for attaching photos.

Not sure how it got posted twice...and I can't figure out how to delete one of the threads...

Thanks, Crazy...actually, I have been sticking them in my box, and I'll hold a beauty contest later to see which get razor-ed.

If you keep breaking the thread, check your bobbin. the tips can get a knick ... or if it's ceramic, it can be cracked ... which will cut the line.

Nah, it was because I was catching the thread on the hook point. Small-@$$ hooks were making it hard to bring it around. I'll get used to it...if I don't burn through all of my hooks first.

Checked out my list, and I think I'll tie the #14 Quill Gordons before tackling the #18 BWOs.

Thanks for the tips, guys. I did go to 8/0 for the thread size, and that was part of my problem. I either snapped it or accidentally cut it 3-4 times on that first fly. I will have to get better at that, and I really like the idea of starting with larger sizes first. Will have to do that right away.

Shoe, I appreciate the Happy Gilmore reference....or was that the hips? Lol

I will keep at it, but I didn't realize how bad my eyesight got until just then...ha ha.

Took my first crack at a dry fly...size 18 BWO...wow, what a disappointment! After watching a ton of YouTube videos, and putting on the magnifying glasses, I did my best, but it doesn't look anything like the storebought one I grabbed for a model to mimic. I am not a novice at tying flies, but i am new at such a small dry fly. Any tips?

Took my first crack at a dry fly...size 18 BWO...wow, what a disappointment! After watching a ton of YouTube videos, and putting on the magnifying glasses, I did my best, but it doesn't look anything like the storebought one I grabbed for a model to mimic. I am not a novice at tying flies, but i am new at such a small dry fly. Any tips?

Hello, from Elk County, PA. Sorry to see that you're no longer in the area, and even more sorry to see you ended up near Cleveland...

Something else you can use that are already cut into strips are the clear plastic straps they put on the inside of ladies blouses to stay on the hangars. My wife and daughter usually cut them out right after they buy them...they make good "thinskin". . Some are better than others, but my wife and daughter buy enough clothes that I can be selective.